Even before the announcement of the 2014 budget by Australian Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey tonight, there were “budget bad news” leaks flying around in the media. So what do we know now? The as-yet-unspecified…

Budget results are in: universities will be able to charge students whatever they want from 2016.
AAPMay 13, 2014

The government has unveiled a higher education deregulation agenda in Tuesday’s budget, including continuation of the demand driven system in public universities. In a major shake-up, universities, TAFEs…

Roads are the way to go for the 2014 federal budget.
tim rich and lesley katon/FlickrMay 13, 2014

The Abbott government has committed an additional A$11.6 billion for an “infrastructure growth package” that is heavy on roads, but aimed at fast-tracking what it considers critical infrastructure. The…

The budget has introduced a $7 co-payment for visits to the general practitioners.
Dave Hunt/AAPMay 13, 2014

The Abbott government has announced a A$20 billion medical research “future fund”, to help discover what Treasurer Joe Hockey calls the “cures of the future”, paid for with money generated as a result…

The Abbott government is hoping an A$11.6 billion infrastructure spending package, combined with a $20 billion medical research fund, will help soften the blow of widespread tightening of health and welfare…

Some pain, but the nation will benefit: Hockey’s first budget.
AAP/Lukas CochMay 13, 2014

The Abbott government has laid out its path to reach a budget surplus near the end of the decade in the face of continued below-trend growth. Stopping short of making deep cuts in the coming years, Treasurer…